Pennsylvania Hall Association. History of Pennsylvania Hall, which was
destroyed by a mob, on the 17th of May, 1838. Philadelphia: Printed by
Merrihew and Gunn, No. 7 Carter's Alley, 1838.

Pennsylvania Hall
On May 17, 1838, an abolitionist convention was held in Philadelphia’s
Pennsylvania Hall. A large mob burned the building to the ground, protesting
against abolitionism. The city was plagued at the time with anti-black
and anti-abolitionist violence, particularly from Philadelphian workers
who feared that they would have to compete for jobs with freed slaves.
Pennsylvania Hall had been open only three days when it fell.

Later that year, the Pennsylvania Hall Association documented
the destruction of Pennsylvania Hall in this publication, proving that
the mob’s violent action against them was unprovoked.